A few months ago, House Republicans launched an effort called Americans Speaking Out, which purports to give average Americans the ability to offer their input on what Congress should do. It became quickly apparent that the enterprise was little more than a taxpayer-funded PR gimmick to help Republicans market their agenda for this fall’s elections, even as they ignored any ideas they didn’t already support. Now, under the banner of Americans Speaking Out, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) has summoned advice from those who he truly seems interested in listening to: lobbyists. Roll Call reports that Boehner has invited “senior Republican lobbyists and top officials from several large trade groups” to a meeting at Boehner’s office to discuss “their suggestions for a new GOP agenda” […]

A spokesperson for Americans Speaking Out defended the meeting, saying it was important to meet with large employers. But this is hardly the first time Boehner and his colleagues have run to lobbyists for help coming up with ideas.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) have invited senior Republican lobbyists and top officials from several large trade groups to the Capitol next week to provide their suggestions for a new GOP agenda.

…snip…

Invitees included Dan Danner, head of the National Federation of Independent Business; Bruce Josten, top lobbyist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Jay Timmons of the National Association of Manufacturers; and Joe Stanton of the National Association of Home Builders.

…snip…

Roskam serves as the vice chairman and “jobs policy director” of the America Speaking Out agenda project.

…snip…

Republicans plan to release the agenda in September, but they say it is not meant to be a political document for use in the November elections.

The meeting, which is scheduled for July 16, is hardly surprising on its own. Republican lawmakers have habitually huddled with lobbyists to formulate their opposition to President Obama’s policies, so it’s only natural that they would take a similar approach to crafting their own platform.

It is, however, astounding that Republicans have the nerve to hold a private meeting with lobbyists under the guise of “America Speaking Out” — the party’s feckless initiative to solicit ideas from the American public:

…snip…

Republicans are justifying the powwow by calling it “an opportunity to hear from America’s job creators.” Nonetheless, a closed-door meeting with high-powered lobbyists clearly violates the principles on which America Speaking Out was conceived.

Here’s how Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the chairman of America Speaking Out, introduced the project back in May:

This is our effort, a Republican effort, to change the course of history and the policies in Washington, to return to 300 million Americans their voice in the way they are governed. We recognize that Americans don’t want an agenda imposed on them from Washington. They know that the best ideas don’t come from Washington. They come from the people.

[…]

But instead of debates behind closed doors, which has happened far too often in the last 18 months, we’re throwing open the doors and letting a little sunshine in. We’re giving Americans an opportunity to have their voices heard.

Boehner, who routinely complains about “backroom deals,” added that America Speaking Out would allow the American people to have their ideas “debated and discussed on the merits in an open forum.”

But next week’s sit-down does not reflect that spirit of openness. The invitees are longtime beltway insiders from the same interest groups that have dominated American politics for years. It’s difficult to argue that their sway with Congressman Boehner and the Republican Party does anything to “return to 300 million Americans their voice.” (The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, for example, is bankrolled by a remarkably small group of donors.)

If Republicans were ever serious about creating an open forum, they now have a great opportunity to prove it: Boehner should broadcast his discussion with the lobbyists on the America Speaking Out website.

…snip…

The choice for Republicans is simple. They can “open the doors” and deliver on the promise of America Speaking Out, or they can admit that they only answer to lobbyists and their ongoing outreach to regular Americans is a sham.

12 responses to “A Crockwork Orange”

Love both titles! He will always be the Orange Congressman. This incarnation of the GOP is incapable of fixing the party. Though…I was happy to see Republicans in Nevada endorsing Reid over Sharron Obtuse Angle.

Back from the coast and catching up on news. Makes me wish I was back on the coast. 😦

I can just imagine the vital subjects being discussed like who will set forms and do the concrete work after kicking all the Mexicans out of the country. Ever see a white man out ther tying wire on the rebar on a road project? No, and you never will. They are too busy leaning on the king cab pick-up bitching about how slow the Mexicans are in the 100 degree heat. The only reaction to this mass unemployment is to call us slackers and drug addicts. The Nevada bunch has an inside joke about voting in the state legislature: 41 to Angle. She seems to vote no on everything, which makes her the perfect conservative! And now, what I thought was the stupid thing of the day, she’s accusing Harry of trying to “hit the girl”. Oh, he’ll get a belt used on him for that! But alas, stupidity decended like the plague on Dallas today when Fred Phelps and his drouges showed up with their hate everybody signs and proceeded to go to 3 different synagogs and a holocaust museum and engage in an old fashioned afternoon of Jew baiting. The accusations of murder against the Hebrews was much evident. Once word got around, counter protesters outnumbered them 12 to 1.

the rethugs have been screeching about all the closed doors in washington, and they see no irony that they’ll be meeting with big business with nobody else allowed to hear what’s going on. deadeye dick would be proud. i’m sure ken lay is laughing in his grave.

I’m really surprised that the rich Rethugs are taking their anger, stupidity and blatant racism out on Mexican/Hispanic illegals. I mean, who else but a rich Rethug loves hiring someone as a maid or servant that they can pay cheap and/or under the table tax-free? Or that they can hire for an odious, dangerous job without worrying about workman’s comp and OSHA! That’s a Rethug idea of Heaven!

just because they trash them doesn’t mean they won’t be the first ones on line to hire them. after all, they’re the ones who are always branding people as immoral, while they’re the ones who are doing things worse than what they’re accusing others of.